At the recent ILA aerospace trade show in Berlin, Airbus Defence and Space along with Helsing, a premier European defence AI and software company, entered into a framework cooperation agreement. This pact paves the way for joint development of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies destined for a novel Wingman system. This unmanned aircraft, designed to complement existing combat jets like the Eurofighter, will operate under the remote directives of a pilot aboard a command aircraft.
Marking its debut at the ILA, Airbus showcased its Wingman concept, a strategic response tailored to meet the evolving operational demands of the German Air Force. The Wingman initiative seeks to enhance the efficacy of manned combat aircraft by integrating uncrewed platforms capable of carrying weapons and executing various tasks.
The current conflicts on Europe’s borders show how important air superiority is,” stated Mike Schoellhorn, CEO of Airbus Defence and Space. “Manned-Unmanned Teaming will play a central role in achieving air superiority: With an unmanned Wingman at their side, fighter pilots can operate outside the danger zone. They give the orders and always have the decision-making authority. Supported by AI, the wingman then takes over the dangerous tasks, including target reconnaissance and destruction or electronic jamming and deception of enemy air defense systems.”
Addressing the complexity and autonomous nature of the unmanned missions, Gundbert Scherf, Co-CEO at Helsing, highlighted the critical role of AI: “Whilst we will always have a human in the loop, we must realize that the most dangerous parts of an unmanned mission will see a high degree of autonomy and thus require AI. From the processing of data from sensors over the optimization of sub-systems to closing the loop on system-level: software-defined capabilities and AI will be a critical component of the Wingman system for the German Air Force.”
In this collaboration, Airbus is set to leverage its extensive experience in the integration of unmanned and manned military aircraft, underpinned by its role as the prime contractor in significant European defense programs like the Eurofighter and the A400M military transporter. Helsing will infuse the partnership with its robust AI capabilities, including advanced sensor fusion and algorithms tailored for electronic warfare, thereby enhancing the operational dynamics of the Wingman system.